16 DE MAIO DE 1992

711

The Ambassador of Portugal in London to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs:

Sir:

I have the honour to inform you that, taking into account the interest to facilitate travelling between Portugal and Bermuda, the Portuguese Government proposes to Her Majesty's Government a Visa Abolition Agreement in the following terms:

1 — Except as provided in paragraph 4, Portuguese citizens with a valid Portuguese passport will be able to enter freely in Bermuda Territory for a temporary stay, in transit, business or tourism, without requiring a visa.

2 — Except as provided in paragraph 4, those persons holding a British passport in which the status of the bearer is described as British Dependent Territory Citizen (Bermuda) will be able to enter freely in Portuguese territory for a temporary stay, in transit, business or tourism, without requiring a visa.

3 — By temporary stay is understood a stay of no longer than 90 days which can be extended by the relevant authorities.

4 — The Portuguese and Bermudian relevant authorities reserve the right to refuse entry or stay in their respective territories of persons they may consider undesirable or that do not comply with general rules regarding the entry of foreigners in their respective territories.

5 — Either of the Governments can temporarily suspend the present Agreement for reasons of public order or national security. That suspension should be communicated immediately to the other Government by diplomatic channels.

6 — If Her Majesty's Government agrees with the above, I have the honour to propose that this note and your reply to that effect shall constitute an Agreement between our two Governments which shall enter into force as soon as both Parties have informed by diplomatic channels that the necessary constitutional formalities have been finalised.

I avail myself of this opportunity to renew to you, Sir, the assurance of my highest consideration.

Antdnio Vox Pereira, Ambassador of Portugal.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office presents its compliments to the Portuguese Embassy and has the honour to refer to their note number 17, of 19 March, which reads as follows:

The Portuguese Embassy presents its compliments to the Southern European Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and has the honour to enclose the text of the Visa Abolition Agreement between Portugal and Bermuda to be exchanged between Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs and His Excellency the Ambassador of Portugal.

The Portuguese Embassy avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Southern European Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office the assurance of its highest consideration.

London, 19th March 1991.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has the honour to inform the Portuguese Embassy that the foregoing proposals are acceptable to the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland who therefore agree that your note, together with the present reply, shall constitute an Agreement between the two Governments in this matter, which shall enter into force on the date of the latter of the notes by which each Government informs the other of the completion of the constitutional formalities necessary for this purpose. The Bermudian authorities have confirmed that the necessary formalities will be completed on friday 26 April 1991.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Portuguese Embassy the assurance of its highest consideration.

West Indian & Atlantic Department Foreign & Commonwealth Office.

17 April 1991.

Parecer da Comissão de Assuntos Constitucionais, Direitos, Liberdades e Garantias sobre o projecto de lei n.fi 40/VI (extracção de órgãos e tecidos para transplante) e a proposta de lei n.9 9/VI (estabelece o novo regime de colheita de órgãos de origem humana e para fins de investigação científica).

I — Introdução

1 — Os desenvolvimentos recentes, alguns deles verdadeiramente espectaculares, registados na biologia, nas ciências médicas e nas técnicas operatórias, têm vindo a tornar cada vez mais viva e aprofundada a discussão dos problemas bioéücos que aqueles progressos suscitam bem como a obrigar a um reexame das questões médicas e jurídicas com eles necessariamente conexos.

Nesse vasto movimento, particularmente sensível na cultura ocidental mais atenta à valorização da pessoa humana e dos direitos do homem, tem assumido particular relevo a problemática dos transplantes de órgãos e tecidos. Neste campo mais restrito, as opções filosóficas e as soluções teóricas adoptadas pelo legislador têm imediatas consequências práticas, de suma importância para dadores, doentes, médicos e para a sociedade em geral.

Compreende-se, por isso, o interesse que o Conselho Nacional de Ética para as Ciências da Vida tem dedicado ao assunto em Portugal —o parecer de 3 de Julho de 1991 — e a atenção que o Governo e os principais partidos políticos dispensaram à questão, apresentando